Lasting machines



Aug. 2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1953 fizz/en tar .5 I: ya.

Aug. 2, 1955 R. E. DUPLESSIS LASTING MACHINES uen tor Rene EDup/essis A y '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1955 Aug. 2,1955 R. E. DUPLESSIS LASTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 13, 1953 fiwen tor Re ne [Du 016.9513

2, 1955 R. E. DUPLESSIS 2,714,216

LASTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 13; 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fizz/en for Ben e iDup/essz's B z 65 United States Patent LASTlNG MACHINES Ren E. Duplessis, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 13, 1953, Serial No. 336,706

Claims. (Cl. 12-12.4)

This invention relates to toe lasting machines, and is herein illustrated as embodied in a toe lasting machine constructed in many respects as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,146,762, granted on February 14, 1939 upon an application of A. F. Pym et al. The

machine herein shown, however, is specially adapted to operate, not on welt shoes, but on flat lasted shoes, i. e. shoes in which the marginal portion of each upper, lying over the insole, extends throughout its Width in generally parallel relation to the bottom of the last. It will nevertheless be understood that in many of its various novel and useful aspects the invention is not limited to the particular machine embodiment shown nor to operation on shoes of any one type.

In one form of construction disclosed in the patent referred to, the machine is provided with a toe rest movable by a treadle into shoe clamping position and a heel rest independently movable lengthwise of the clamped shoe into position to engage the heel end of the shoe thus to support the shoe against operating movements of a pair of hand-operated toe wipers. While the shoe supporting means of the disclosed machine operates in a generally satisfactory manner, it is especially desirable further to aid an operator in positioning a shoe in the machine and to assure that the shoe may be conveniently secured against movement from operative position. Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide in a toe lasting machine improved means effectively and conveniently to control a shoe of any size and style being operated upon while necessitating less effort in this respect on the part of the operator. To this end the construction herein shown includes novel means for supporting an inverted shoe, said means comprising a toe rest, a heel rest, and a last cone rest, all of which are moveable into operating position relatively to a last on which the shoe is mounted upon the actuation of a single treadle. In contrast with the machine of the patent cited and others, moreover, the construction shown is further such that actuation of the single treadle is effective automatically to bring these rests into operative positions in the sequence preferred to maintain the inverted shoe in its position as initially located manually with reference to the toe wipers. In this way the shoe is first enabled to assume a position lengthwise relative to the opened wipers as determined by movement of the heel rest to clamp the shoe against a toe gage; next, to be clamped by the toe rest in the toe portion against a holddown in proper lengthwise relation to the toe lasting means; and lastly, to be supported by the cone rest in the position then assumed by the heel end of the last.

To facilitate advance movement of the heel rest into shoe clamping position as above described, in accordance with another feature of the invention, electrical means are provided in the construction shown to aid the operator in overcoming the inertia of the heel rest itself as well as other relatively heavy parts associated therewith. Conveniently, this means takes the form of a 2,714,216 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 "ice solenoid having its plunger coupled to a member supporting the heel rest and a control therefor constructed and arranged to be automatically actuated immediately upon depression of the above-mentioned treadle and prior to its effective movement heightwise of the toe rest or cone rest. Continued depression of the treadle serves in the illustrative machine forcibly and finally to clamp the shoe with the heel rest as well as to raise the toe rest and heel cone rest successively into their operative positions, and is effected yieldingly against the resistance of a return spring arranged to act on the heel supporting member. The spring as thus loaded is subsequently released and functions quickly to release the shoefrom the machine by unclamping the toe and heel cone rests and, in addition, energizes a spring in readiness for advancing the hitherto retracted toe gage part way to its shoe-clamping position. As herein shown the gage, normally held in shoe-clamping position by a pawl, is spring-retracted lengthwise of the shoe in response to initial movement of a wiper-operating hand lever to effect up-wiping of an upper, and after the spring-return of the gage as just noted, it is completely returned to its shoe clamping position by final return movement of said lever. This control of the toe gage assures that its movements will be effected with a minimum of attention on the part of the operator, without hindrance or harm to his hands, and that the shoe may be removed without the danger of having its marginal edge cut by the gage.

The above and other features of the invention and various novel details of construction will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine in which the invention is embodied, a shoe being shown as supported for the toe lasting operation, and the machine in this view resembling in many respects Fig. 8 of the patent above referred to;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation and on a larger scale of the upper portion of the machine seen in Fig. 1, the work rests being in position to be moved into shoe or last engaging positions;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of mechanism for controlling and locking the shoe supporting parts of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing some of the parts on a larger scale and indicating the cone rest operating mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the toe gage and associated parts in a retracted position and partially in section.

In view of the disclosure of the above-mentioned Letters Patent, the drawings show only as much of the machine as is necessary to illustrate the invention, and in so far as the structure does not differ substantially from that provided heretofore it will be only briefly described. The machine comprises a frame 10 (Figs. 1 and 2) on one side of which a bracket 12 is secured having fast thereon an insole holddown plate 14 adapted to engage the forepart of an insole mounted on a last L. The plate 14 is thus arranged to determine the heightwise position of the forepart of a last and a shoe mounted thereon relatively to a pair of detachable toe lasting wipers 15 (Figs. 2 and 4) of conventional form. These wipers may be presumed to be supported on a wiper carrier 16 in the manner described in the Pym et a1. patent referred to above. Accordingly the carrier itself, mounted in a manner somewhat similar to that disclosed in said patent, is movable lengthwise of the shoe to advance the wipers lengthwise over the shoe bottom while effecting their inward wiping movements about 3 the toe. Means providedfor effecting such movements of the carrier will hereinafter be described.

The shoe, as illustrated, is of the type in which the margin of the upper in lasted position lies throughout-its width in substantially parallel relation to the lastbottom. The :lengthwise .-po si tion of the shoe is determined by abutting the face of its toe end against a retractable toe gage 18 that is movable into, and latched in, operative position as later explained. The machine -is .provided withshoe-supportingmeans comprising a heel 'rest 20 movable lengthwise into abutting relation with the back o f;a-s hoe to clamp it-in operativeposition in cooperation with the toe gage 18, a toe rest 22 -movable heightwise to engage the toe of -the shoe underneath and thereby clamp it in cooperation with the plate 14, and a last support or cone rest ;24 also movable heightwise to engage the cone of the last -at'-the heel end and further support-the shoe in its-operativeposition. Both the heel 'and -cone rests extend -widthwise -sufiiciently to accommodate the largest lasts having the 'most :pronounced swing. J The-actuating mechanism-for these rests is controlled by-a-single treadle 26 as aperhaps best seenin "Fig.6. The toe-rest -22 is-supported upon the=upper end of a verticalbar 28 pivotally mounted-at its lower-end on a bifurcated 'armof-a lever 30 fulcrumed ona rod -32 on-theframe, the other arm-ofthis lever'beingcon- 'nected by-a link 34 to the treadle-26. The latter is ipivoted at -36 on the frame. The bar 28 is 'further controlled by a bifurcatedlink 38 pivoted on a rod 40 on the frame, the -link -38 being substantially parallel to *thelever 30 and of the same lengthas-that arm of the lever to which the bar 28 is connected. The heel rest 20 is in-the form of a'felt -covered fiat-plate extending widthwise of the shoe-and-fixedly supported on the upturned'end of a -carrier cornprising a .pair of parallel arms 42 (only one shown) spaced-widthwise :andextendin'd belowthe shoe. In a location substantially under the wipers 15 the arms 42 area-pivotally supported on -two upwardly'extending arms 44- of a bifurcated lever 46 pivotally mounted ona rod -48- on-the frame. In a location farther from the heel rest the -arms 42 merge -i n'a single arm 50 pivotally-supported-at its endon a link-62 mounted-on'a'rod54 ontheframe. The link 52 is substantially:parallel to the arms 44,- and these 'parts constitute, in effect, a parallel -link -support forthe-heel 'rest-carrieras the latter is'moved to-cary the heel-rest intoor-out of-engagement with t-heheel end of-the'shoe. The arms 44 of the lever 46 merge near the lower end of thelever-in -a single arm 56 which is arranged to engagean-abutmenb58 (Fig. 1) -on the frametodimit movement of the heel rest 20 in a-directionaway'from -the shoe. -'A tension-spring60 connected to the frame -10 and to thelink"52 -holds'the heel rest- 20 normally in the position determined by this abutment 58.

For-overcoming inertia of the-heavy heel rest -20' and parts associated therewith whenit is to be-shifted-i-nto shoe clamping-position against the resistance -of the spring 60, means comprising =a-solenoid 62 (Fi'gs.-l,- 2 -and- 3);mounted on the frame=and asolenoid plunger 64 are employed, the '-latter-' being--pivota1lyconnected to "a slotted link-66-receiving aspin -68 1 secured to the link .52. It will be appreciated that the toe rest-22 should ;not engage theshoe;prior--to--the heel rest 20-since the shoe may not thenabut the toe. gage 18 andbeproperly positioned relatively to the "wipers-15. --To assurethat the heel rest 20 is brought into shoe engaging position prior -to the toe and cone rests and to relieve the "opra'tor'of'the burden overcoming the inertia men- "tibried,"amicfoswitch' 70 (High) controlling energization "of the solenoid 62 'is' se r'e'dtothe treadle 26' arid'has 'a t'rigger 72 "yieldabl "p' jettin fthr'ongh and "upwardl from "the treadle. trip plate 74 pivotal'ly secured at "one'end to the treadle -26ext'e'r'ids lengthwise thereof an'd is -s light-ly 'spaced the-1efrorn at its othefeiid by acomp'iESSiGH-Qpfifig 76-'S"eatd in the treadle. Tlie ar-iafigb ment is such that this spring normally permits the plate '74 To Test on the upper end of the trigger 72 Without depressing the latter, but stepping on the trip plate compresses the spring and depresses the trigger relatively to the treadle effectively to energize the solenoid 62 before added downward force on the trip plate can be transmitted to actuate the-treadle 26.

Depression of the treadle26-is resisted by a tension spring 80 (Fig. 3') connecting it with the'knee of a toggle -comprising links 82, 84. The link 82 is afiixed at one end to the "frame -10 and, the:link 84 being connected to a downwardly extending arm of 'the lever 46, downward movement of the treadle is eifected to swing the lever 46 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3 thereby urging the heel rest 20 -to-th'e left and lagainst'the back of the shoe. The slot in the link 66 permits this final further manual movement of the heel rest into clamping relation with the shoe though the plunger 64 may then be fully nested in the solenoid 62.

Theheel cone rest"24 is pivotally mountedon'the corresponding ends of apa'ir of parallel angularlevers"9'9 (one shown), fulcrumedon their other ends on a rod '92 mounted on and extending between the arms '42. When inoperative the cone rest'24ispermitted'to be'lowered'by gravity to an out-of-the-way position. By means now to be described'the conerestis raised by movement of the toe rest into operative positionyieldingly'to engage and then be'locked in position to support the heel end of the last. A bracket 94'fast on eachof'the arms 42 pivotally supports a bell crank 'lever 96, one arm of which is pivotally connected by alink 98 to one o'f'the'levers"90 and the other arm of which carries a roll 100. 'The'latter are disposed, as theheel re'stZl is carried toward the shoe, to engage andbeyieldingly raisedby an incline'dportionof a slightlyfiexible metal striplllZ that'has anrupright end screwed 'to the 'toe rest b'ar28. Resultant counterclockwise movement of'thebell crank levers 96 wingsthe levers 90clockwise untilthe last'heel cone is engaged by'the rest 24.

Meansfonholding the several work supp rting rests in the respective operating positions will now be described. 'In order to hold the heel rest2'0 in shoe clamping, position there is secured to the lever '46 a plate 1'64 provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth1 66. Arranged to cooperate with these teeth is 'a lockingpawllQS pivotally mounted on a rod 110 on the frame and having integral therewith an armliZcQnnected by a name; to acrank arm 116-integral witha treadleillfinrnounted to swing about ashaft-IZQ. A spring 122connected at-one end to a-crankarm- 124 integral with the treadlellsand at its other-end to the frame, holds the:pawl .1 08. normally in position towooperatewith the ratchet teeth106. .Accordingly, When the lever 46'is. swung counterclockwise -as seeninFig. 3 tobring the heel restZQinto shoe clamp- --ing position, such-position is heldby the cooperationof theteeth I96 and-thepawlltli. Upon-depression of the -treadle -1i8 the pawl is swung =awayfrom-the reachet teeth to release the-heel rest andiperm-itthespring 60 to return it to idle, position. In a similar manner, this depression of the treadle 1 118 acts through a link 126 connecting the -arm 124-with one end of xalockingpawl 128 pivota-llymounted ona rod lfitl-on theframe, and the Zpawl 128 is thereby released, againstvthe influence of the spring 122, from apluralityof ratchet.teethfliil-formed on a plate 134 secured tothetreadle126. '='With the pawl 128'released thespring-:80 (Big. 3) 'is eifectivenin conjunc'tion with a returnspringlSStPig. 2)= connected between the frame and the lever 30, to lowerxthe toe rest 22. As the heel rest 20ireturns'toits startinga position a 'spring pressed-latch 136Ipivotally mounted on:each of -the brackets94 and biased to cooperatewithfratchctteeth 138 formed-on the levers is released lth'erefrom by means of rods ll40 (one-shown). Ea'ch-lof the latter is pivotal-ly connected to -.the 'latch 136 andiisislidable inia bore iorrfled in *opposite sides of the-frame. B'eforeithe end of the return movement of the arms 42 stop collars 142 respectively aflixed on the rods abut the frame to release the latches 136 from the teeth 138 and the cone rest 24 is permitted to fall under gravity to free the last and shoe for removal from the machine.

For heightwise movement about an axis extending widthwise of the machine the carrier 16 is pivotally supported at its rearward end upon the upper end of a bar 144 that is threaded to receive an internally threaded bevel gear 146. The latter is held against heightwise movement by the upper and lower tubular portions of a bell crank lever 148 which receives the bar 144 and is fulcrumed on the the frame at 150. An end of the bell crank lever 148 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 152 having its other end pivotally secured to a short crank arm 154 (Fig. 1) fast on a horizontal shaft 156 mounted in a bearing on the frame. Also fast on this shaft is an upwardly extending hand lever 158 comprising a handle 160 thatis arranged to be grasped by the left hand of an operator and swung forwardly and rearwardly to manipulate the wipers. In a modified and more convenient arrangement than disclosed in the said Pym et al. patent, means is provided for varying the angular relation of the plane of the wipers to the forepart bottom of a clampedshoe. A bevel gear 162 meshing with the gear 146 is connected by universal links 164, 166 with a hand crank 168 having bearings in a circular gage 170 mounted on the front of the machine frame. The arrangement is accordingly such that rotation of the crank 168 adjusts the bar 144 vertically thereby pivoting the carrier 16 upon fulcrum pins 171 extending widthwise in the respective upper ends of a pair of upwardly extending arms 172 pivotally mounted on the frame and substantially parallel to the bar 144. More forwardly the carrier 16 is supported by a link 174 having pivotal connection therewith and with a crank arm 175 (Fig. 1) fast on the shaft 120. Also fast on this shaft is a doubleacting treadle 178 (Fig. 1) of substantially the construction heretofore used to raise or lower the forward end of the carrier 16 with the wipers. As a means for centering the wipers when the carrier is in idle position a bolt 180 (Fig. 2) extends vertically through a bracket 182 on the frame and its upper end is arranged to be received by an inverted V-shaped groove extending forwardly and rearwardly in a block 184 afiixed to the underside of the carrier.

The toe gage 18 is secured to the forward end of a lever 190, that is pivotally suspended on the lower end of a link 194 which is pivotally mounted on an upper portion of the frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The rear end of the lever is pivotally connected to a lever 192 swingably supported on a bracket 196 (Fig. 5) on the frame, anactuating arm 198 (Fig. 2) of the lever 192 being operatively connected by a link 200 with an end of the toe rest operating lever 30 for a purpose hereinafter explained. The toe gage 18 is normally held in its advance shoe engaging position by means hereinafter described. A spring 202 connected to the lever 190 and to the frame acts to retract the gage upon initial forward movement of the wiper-operating hand lever 158. For this release and retraction of the gage a lever 204 (Figs. 2 and 5), pivotally supported at 206 on the bracket 196 and having its lower endformed as a detent 208 (Figs. 1 and 2) for cooperating in looking relation with a notch 210 (Fig. 5) formed on the lever 192, is swung clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 by a link 212, the notch 210 having assumed its locking position upon movement of the toe rest 22 into shoe engaging position. The link 212 pivotally connects the lever 204 with one end of a lever 214, the other end of which is provided with a pawl .216 (Fig. 2) extending into the path of, and for engagement with, a trip 218 mounted on the operating lever 158. The lever 214 is fulcrumed on an arm 215 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) clamped to the frame. The mounting of the trip 218 on the hand lever 158 is thus such that the advance movement of the latter to commence closing movement of the wipers is effective through the lever 214 and the link 212 to unseat the detent 208 from the notch 210 against the resistance of a return leaf spring 220 mounted on the frame and thus permits the spring 202 to retract the gage 18. The shoe continues to be held securely clamped by the shoe supporting rests 20, 22 and 24 and the plate 14, and the wipers may now be operated on and over the toe portion without an obstruction being offered by the gage 18 or other parts. It will be noted that this gage retraction effects movement of the lever 192 clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and hence downward movement of the link 200 and a collar 222 aflixed thereon is against the resistance of a return spring 224 mounted on the link 200 and bearing on a collar 226 slidably mounted thereon but abutting a hub of the lever 30. The toe gage and the levers 190, 192 are held in retracted positions by means of the locking engagement of a detent 230 (Figs. 2 and 5) formed on the lever 192 with a latch arm 232 (Fig. 5) of the lever 204. The arm 232 is normally retained in this latching position by a spring 234 connected to the fixed arm 215 and to one arm of a lever 236 fulcrumed on the arm 215', a link 238 connecting the lever 236 with the lever 204. After the first portion of the rearward or return movement of the hand lever 158, the shoe then having been toe lasted, the operator discontinues returning the lever 158 while releasing the shoe from the machine by depressing the treadle 118. As downward movement of the toe rest 22 occurs, the collar 226 is moved upwardly further to load the return spring 224. Upon removal of the shoe from the machine, further return or rearward movement of the hand lever 158 is effective against the resistance of the springs 202 and 234 to return the gage 18 to shoe clamping position. For this purpose an upwardly extending pin 240 mounted in the upper end of the lever 158 is arranged to be carried into engagement with a finger-like end 242 of the lever 236 and shifts the link 238 to pivot the lever 204 clockwise (as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 5) and thus unlatches the arm 232 from the detent 230. This permits the loaded spring 224 to move the lever 192 clockwise quickly to return the gage 18 nearly to its starting position. Final full return of the gage to shoe engaging position is effected more slowly by clockwise movement of the lever 192 when the operator completely returns the hand lever 158 to its most rearward position. This two-stage return of the toe gage 18, partly mechanical and partly manual, also restores the detent 208 and the notch 210 to cooperative position.

Reviewing operation of the machine briefly, an inverted shoe is presented with the right hand, the toe abutting the gage 18 and having its forepart bottom engaged by the hold-down plate 14. If necessary, the crank 168 is rotated to adjust the inclination of the plane of the wipers 15 and the toe portion is centered with respect to the open wipers and adjusted slightly about a vertical axis. The shoe is then clamped in this operating position by simply depressing the treadle 26 by stepping on the plate 74. The heel rest 20, the toe rest 22, and the last support or cone rest 24 are, as a consequence, successively moved into operating position. As above explained, the solenoid is energized by the slight initial downward movement of the plate 74 to actuate the solenoid control trigger 72, and the plunger 64 is retracted with the link 66, an end of its slot bearing on the pin 68 to swing the link 52 counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 3, and thereby urges the carrier arms 42 to shift the heel rest 20 toward shoe-clamping position. Inertia of these and other associated parts is accordingly overcome electrically without undue exertion on the part of the operator, his further depression of the treadle 26 acting yieldingly to straighten the toggle 82, 84 and thus clamp the shoe against the toe gage 18, the heel rest 20 being releasably locked in operative position by the spring-biased pawl 128 and the teeth 132. By clamping the shoe with the heel rest 20 prior to doing so with the toe rest 22 the shoe is enabled to maintain its position relative to the toe gage and hence with respect to the open wipers 15. The same treadle movement is thereafter effective through the link 34, the lever 30, and the bar 28 to raise the toe rest 22 into shoe-clamping position against the holddown plate 14. Heightwise movement of the bar 28 raises the strip 102 for engagement with the rolls 100 as the last cone rest 24 is carried lengthwise of the shoe by the heelrest supporting means. Comparing Figs. 2 and 4, it will be noted that the levers 96 thus yieldingly move counterclockwise and cause the links 98 to move the levers 90 clockwise, thereby moving the cone rest 24 heightwise with the toe rest and into engagement with the cone of the last at its heel end. Limited pivotal relation of the rest 24 with the levers 90 permits the last engaging surface of the rest 24 to adapt its inclination to that of the heel rest cone in whatever position the last has then been required to assume. The spring-pressed latches 136 act to hold the cone rest 24 in this last-supporting position.

The shoe being jacked, the operator with his left hand on the handle 160 swings the lever 158 from its initial position noted in Figs. 1 and 2 toward himself at the front of the machine to operate the wipers in well-known manner. The first portion of this forward movement of the lever 158 unseats the detent 208 as above explained, the spring 292 then retracting the toe gage 18 from its forward position indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to that out-of-the-way position indicated in Fig. 5 where it is held by the cooperating detent 230 and the latch arm 232. After the toe has been lasted, the operator partially returns the hand lever 158 and steps on the treadle 118 to release the shoe from the machine. The locking pawls 108 and 128 are thereby respectively released relatively to the lever 46 and the treadle 26 permitting the springs 135 and 60, respectively, to return the toe rest 22 and the heel rest 20 to their starting positions. Near the end of the return movement of the heel rest arms 42 the collars 142 abut the frame 10 to release the latches 136 from locking position and the cone rest 24 is lowered by gravity to its starting position. In addition to freeing the toelasted shoe, depression of the treadle 118 effects further compression of the spring 224 in readiness partially to return the toe gage 18 forwardly, as above explained. The final portion of the return movement of the hand lever 158, by means of the pin 240 and the lever 236 serving to unlatch the arm 232 from the detent 230, releases the spring ,224 and then finally restores the gage to its fully returned shoe-clamping position in readiness for the next shoe to be operated upon. This two-stage return of the toe gage 18 thus avoids the possibility of otherwise harming the operator or damaging a shoe.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lasting machine having a toe gage engageable with the toe end and a holddown engageable with the bottom of a shoe on a last, a toe rest movable heightwise of the shoe, a heel rest movable lengthwise of the shoe, a treadle for moving said toe rest into position to clamp the shoe against the holddown, means for carrying said heel rest into position to clamp the shoe against the toe gage, and means comprising a solenoid energizable upon initial actuation of said treadle and connected to said heel rest carrying means for urging the heel rest into shoeclamping position ahead of the toe rest.

2. A lasting machine as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that a yieldable connection is provided between said treadle and said heel-rest carrying means whereby, after said solenoid has acted to overcome the inertia of the reel rest and said carrying means in moving to clamp the shoe, the treadle may be further actuated yieldingly to urge the heel rest lengthwise into shoe-clamping relation.

3. In a lasting machine having a holddown engageable with the bottom of a shoe on a last and a toe gage engageable with the toe to determine the position of the shoe heightwise and lengthwise, a toe rest and a heel rest respectively cooperative with said holddown and toe gage to hold the shoe against movement from its operating position, a rest arranged and adapted to be moved into engagement with the heel cone of the last to support it in the position it has assumed, and treadle-controlled means for successively moving the heel rest, the toe rest and the cone rest into their respective operating positions.

4. In a lasting machine having a holddown engageable with the bottom of a shoe on a last and a toe gage engageable with the toe to determine the position of the shoe heightwise and lengthwise, a heel rest movable lengthwise of the shoe to clamp it against said toe gage, a toe rest movable heightwise of the shoe to clamp it against said holddown, means for so moving the heel and toe rests, a cone rest arranged to be carried lengthwise by said heel rest, and means interconnecting the toe rest and the cone rest for moving the latter heightwise into yielding engagement with the heel cone of the last to support it in the position it has been required to assume.

5. In a machine for lasting the toe of a shoe on a last and having work-positioning means comprising a toe gage and a holddown arranged to engage the bottom of the forepart, a heel rest movable lengthwise of the shoe to clamp it against said toe gage, a toe rest movable heightwise of the shoe to clamp it against said holddown, means for so moving the heel and toe rests, and a heel cone rest movable by said means both lengthwise with the heel rest and heightwise with the toe rest to engage and support the last heel cone in the position assumed by the clamped shoe.

6. In a lasting machine having toe-lasting means and means including a holddown and a retractable toe gage for positioning a shoe on a last relatively to said toelasting means, mechanism for clamping the shoe against said holddown and toe gage, a member movable by the operator to operate said toe-lasting means, means for releasing the shoe from said clamping mechanism, mechanism controlled by said member for efiecting retraction of said toe gage prior to operation of said toe-lasting means, and mechanism controlled by said member for returning the toe gage to operative position.

7. In a lasting machine having toe-lasting means and means including a hold-down and a retractable toe gage for positioning a shoe on a last relatively to said toelasting means, mechanism for clamping the shoe against said hold-down and toe gage, a member movable by the operator to operate said toe-lasting means, means for releasing the shoe from said clamping mechanism, mechanism controlled by movement of said member in one direction for effecting retraction of said toe gage prior to operation of said toe-lasting means, and mechanism controlled by movement of said member in another direction for eifecting complete return of said toe gage to operative position.

8. In a lasting machine having shoe-positioning means comprising a retractable toe gage, a toe rest and a heel rest, a wiper-operating lever, means for moving said heel rest into shoe-clamping relation with said toe gage and for moving said toe rest into shoe-engaging position, mechanism actuated by movement of said lever in one direction to eflect retraction of the toe gage from shoeclamping position, means for holding said gage retracted to permit operation of the wipers on the shoe, means for removing the heel and toe rests from shoe-engaging position after operation of the wipers, means energizable by operation of said rest-removing means and effective when said holding means is rendered ineffective partially to return the toe gage to shoe-clamping position, and mechanism actuated by movement of said lever in another direction fully to return the toe gage to shoeclamping position.

9. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting means, a toe gage and a hold-down for respectively engaging the toe and bottom of a shoe on a last to position the shoe relatively to said toe-lasting means, a shoe rest, an operator controlled member for moving the shoe rest lengthwise to engage the shoe and clamp it in operative position With the cooperation of said toe gage, and power means operable by initial actuation of said member for urging said rest lengthwise toward its shoe clamping position.

10. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting means, a gage for positioning the toe portion of an inverted shoe on a last relatively to said toe-lasting means, a heel rest extening Widthwise and adapted to be moved lengthwise to clamp the shoe against said gage, means for so moving the heel rest, a heel cone rest extending widthwise and adapted to engage the heel cone of the last in the position it has been required to assume, and mechanism actuated by said heel rest moving means for yieldingly moving said heel cone rest heightwise into last-clamping relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,110 Schoenky Sept. 28, 1937 2,108,171 Jorgensen Feb. 15, 1938 2,135,677 Roberts Nov. 8, 1938 2,152,855 Ricks et a1. Apr. 4, 1939 2,307,103 Boothroyd Jan. 5, 1943 

